Chapter 105
Chapter 105
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: Popularity (2)
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“⋯⋯It’s already over?”
Gray asked in bewilderment.
She had rushed to the imperial palace in a single bound the moment she realized the brooch her father had given her had turned strange.
One of the palace servants assigned to deal with the Hero fidgeted as he replied.
“Yes, Hero. It was quite noisy yesterday, but it somehow got resolved⋯⋯”
The demon appearing in the palace yesterday was basically classified information, so he couldn’t spill everything, but given who the opponent was, he couldn’t hide it entirely either.
“Who resolved it?”
“Someone named Carlyle Bellfast.”
“⋯⋯.”
Gray blinked vacantly.
‘Again.’
It was that guy.
She hadn’t even known he was in the palace, yet he had protected her father again while she was away.
And the first thought that crossed Gray’s mind upon hearing that fact.
‘⋯⋯Of course it’s that bastard.’
At this point, no one else came to mind who could help her this much.
A chuckle escaped her lips unwittingly.
The servant across from her froze in terror as the Hero started laughing, but Gray had no time to worry about him.
Hearing that he had saved her father filled a corner of her heart with a tickling sensation she had never felt before.
What was this?
It wasn’t simple gratitude.
⋯⋯It was more like realizing once again that she trusted that guy.
‘I should say thanks.’
Gray usually avoided direct expressions for various reasons, but after receiving a favor this big, it was only natural.
It wasn’t just anyone—he had saved her father.
“⋯⋯Ahem, uh-hum.”
Probably, if that guy wanted.
⋯⋯⋯⋯She could offer something a bit more ‘important’ as compensation.
Why not?
Like giving more of this great Hero’s time.
Or procuring a gift to that bastard’s taste from somewhere.
N-not that she would do it herself.
If he wanted it, that is.
“Oh, by the way, I heard that Lord Carlyle suffered quite a severe injury during the subjugation. He’s receiving treatment right n—”
Before he could finish, the servant’s body toppled over.
Gray’s eyes blazed with fury as she kicked his shin.
⋯⋯At least his leg wasn’t shattered and sent flying, so she must have held back.
“—Why didn’t you say that sooner!”
“⋯⋯.”
*You didn’t ask, you crazy bitch.*
Before the servant could voice that sentiment, Gray—who had knocked him down—whirled around and started to walk away.
⋯⋯Precisely, she started to, then spun back around with a stomp.
She grabbed the servant’s nape like she was picking up an animal from the floor and yanked him up, glaring as she demanded.
“How badly is that guy hurt?”
“⋯⋯Not to the point of life-threatening, but enough to make movement difficult, from what I heard.”
“Good. Then he needs nursing, right?”
“⋯⋯.”
No idea why “good” fit there, but anyway, the servant answered affirmatively.
“Does that guy have a nurse with him now?”
“I believe so.”
“It’s fine if I go and chase them out, right?”
“⋯⋯.”
“And tell me where I can buy flowers and fruit nearby. Quick.”
“⋯⋯.”
After this violent Q&A for a warm visit, Gray approached Carlyle’s sickroom with flowers and fruit in hand, full of ambition.
A gift personally bought by the Hero herself. That guy might be so moved he’d shed tears.
As she thought that.
“What do you think of Gray?”
“⋯⋯.”
⋯⋯A sentence she ended up overhearing in silence dropped right then.
It was her father’s voice.
As Gray Chasefield herself was aware, she often found herself in situations where she overheard others’ conversations.
Her exceptional physical abilities—picking up every sound whether she wanted to or not—played the biggest role.
Because of that, she sometimes unwittingly hid and eavesdropped on sensitive topics without meaning to.
Especially if it involved a certain man.
Like now.
“⋯⋯May I first ask why you’re posing such a question?”
Carlyle’s calm reply followed.
“Because I want to ask a favor.”
“⋯⋯I’m already faithfully fulfilling the request to become her retainer.”
“Carlyle. This incident made it clear to me—I can never walk by that child’s side until the end.”
“⋯⋯.”
“⋯⋯It’s something I resolved myself to the moment she took on the Hero’s role, but I’ll die before she does. Facing the worst enemy threatening humanity means that much.”
A chill raced through Gray’s veins like ice in her blood.
It was always something she had thought about.
⋯⋯Everyone around the Hero ends up unhappy.
It was something her strongest patron, Felix, had repeatedly drilled into her.
This attack targeting Lionel probably wouldn’t be the last either.
But she hadn’t known her father had accepted it so calmly.
He wouldn’t have said it outright knowing how she’d feel the moment he did.
“But you’re different.”
Lionel spoke in a quiet, unwavering voice.
“You can stay by her side until the end. Even without me.”
“⋯⋯.”
“⋯⋯All I ask is that you ensure she’s not left alone—protect her side.”
“You’ve done well so far.”
“There’s no guarantee you’ll keep doing so, which is why I wanted confirmation.”
“⋯⋯.”
“Especially now, with so many people throwing tantrums to pull you away from Gray’s side.”
“⋯⋯.”
“The Black Lion Margrave, the Emperor, the Princes, the Princesses—they’re all after you. They promise a much brighter, more comfortable future if you serve them instead of the Hero, who lacks even a shred of humanity. You know that, right?”
“⋯⋯Yes.”
Suddenly.
Her fingertips and toes went cold all at once.
⋯⋯Without her knowing, he’d been receiving such offers continuously. That guy.
⋯⋯Without her knowing, he could have left her side.
As those thoughts surfaced.
“Well, if you’re asking how I think of the Lady.”
Carlyle sighed softly and replied.
“I think she’s an unparalleled wastrel.”
“⋯⋯What?”
“Sometimes I wonder if it’s not just a broken personality but some kind of mania. Honestly, doesn’t she need treatment already? Maybe consider prescribing some medicine.”
“⋯⋯.”
“Truth be told, if it weren’t for me, she’d have killed so many people by now she could stack their corpses into a mountain, unable to control her temper.”
Lionel and Gray fell silent at the same time.
Veins bulged on Gray’s forehead. Rage surged through her body just as she always imagined.
But unlike usual, that anger lost direction and settled deep inside her.
⋯⋯Wasn’t the very reason she was angry now—that he might leave her—born from such fury?
‘Then just meet whoever you want.’
Gray clenched her fist tight, thinking that.
She didn’t care about someone like her, so he could just meet whoever he pleased.
Suddenly, those words rose to her throat.
She closed her eyes and imagined him getting close to someone else—not her.
-I’m always on the Lady’s side.
Always like that.
Unconditional favor poured without strings, now directed at someone else.
Especially if that someone was a woman.
Someone who, unlike her—who didn’t even understand the feeling of liking someone yet—could skillfully comfort Carlyle.
Imagine him opening his heart, showing expressions he never showed her, getting far closer than she ever could.
“⋯⋯.”
Her chest tightened.
It hurt.
⋯⋯It hurts.
She bit her clamped lips hard.
Her body trembled for some incomprehensible reason, but it definitely wasn’t because of that bastard.
Anyway, that’s how it was.
There was no way the Hero like her would depend on someone else like that.
She was just hurting a little.
“⋯⋯.”
Gray gritted her teeth and forced the emotion rising in her throat back down.
That was all.
That was—
“But that’s exactly why no one but me could handle the Lady.”
“⋯⋯.”
Gray’s breath caught slightly.
◆
Carlyle continued his fervent response.
“Grand Duke. I will never abandon the Lady. No matter who comes running with offers, I intend to stay by her side until the end.”
Honestly, there was no other answer possible.
No, between Liza and this man, why did they keep worrying about the obvious?
If he didn’t turn Gray into a proper person, the world would end, right?
Don’t they get this simple fact?
He was the one worried about something else.
‘This guy isn’t testing me, is he?’
A half-hearted answer here might make them think he was looking elsewhere and try to separate him from Gray—that would be the real problem.
So he needed to drive the nail in firm.
“I’ll definitely make the Hero proper.”
Lionel’s eyes widened.
“What?”
“I will take responsibility for the Lady until the end.”
Carlyle stated firmly.
“Even staking my life on it.”
Yes. It was truly something worth staking his life on.
The Hero who would save the world—Carlyle would shape her with his own hands⋯⋯!
No one else could do it⋯⋯!
Gray’s father, I’ll raise your daughter into a proper human being⋯⋯!
“⋯⋯.”
Lionel gazed silently at Carlyle.
As if at a loss for words.
⋯⋯And tears streamed from his eyes.
“⋯⋯.”
Sir.
Why the tears all of a sudden⋯⋯?
Of course, promising to help his daughter like that might bring tears.
But somehow, the intent Carlyle thought and how it was received felt a bit off—
“Haha, hahaha—! Yes, that’s it! That’s the answer I was waiting for!”
“⋯⋯.”
“One of my lifelong worries just lifted! Of course! Who else in the world could take responsibility for Gray but you!”
⋯⋯Hm.
What was this.
Eyes glistening with tears, Lionel approached and crushed Carlyle in a hug.
How to put it.
He seemed excessively joyful?
Less like finding his daughter’s true ‘mentor’ and more like gaining a new family member—
[⋯⋯Idiot.]
‘⋯⋯What now.’
[Honestly, at times like this, you’re just clueless.]
‘⋯⋯.’
As he heard another incomprehensible remark.
A window popped up before his eyes.
-System Message
▶ Target ‘Grand Duke Chasefield’ reaches maximum affinity with you!
▶ ‘Taming’ impossible for target. No reward given, but quest line progression changes!
▶ ‘Chasefield Family’ becomes your ‘support faction.’ The Grand Duke’s house will actively aid you even at risk to themselves, rush to your aid first in trouble, and heed any request you make!
▶ Greatly impacts upcoming ‘Main Quest’!
“⋯⋯.”
Carlyle stared blankly at the floating window.
This man must have been deeply worried about his daughter.
Promising to fix her head brought this level of reaction.
‘Isn’t this a bit much⋯⋯?’
As he thought that.
⋯⋯Something truly excessive floated before him next.
-System Message
▶ Target ‘Gray’s’ Trust surges dramatically.
▶ Target’s Trust changes from ‘Interest’ to ‘Bond’!
▶ Trust level exceeds threshold. Target’s ‘special ability’ additionally unlocked!
-System Message
▶ ‘Special Ability: Wrath of Loss’ added to target ‘Gray.’
▶ If you are in danger, target’s stats temporarily boosted!
“⋯⋯.”
Carlyle’s mouth snapped shut at the window.
It hit him anew.
The strong impression he first left on Gray started because she overheard him.
‘Heh.’
No need for her to guard him down to the roots like this.
Damn.
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